Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthea Greco.
Hi Anthea, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I seem to recall being an introverted attention seeker from quite a young age and hoped that my older self would figure out the logistics of being an Actor when the time came. So naturally, I buried my true aspirations and studied Psychological Science instead. I worked in Video Stores, a Liquor store, my Dad’s tool shop as a Research Assistant. It was when I was trying to break into the -surprisingly competitive- industry of Funeral Directing that I reasoned: why not bust my tail trying to work in an impossible industry that I am TRULY ravenous for? The other one’s not going anywhere. So, I exhumed my original goals, trained as an Actor, stopped apologizing for being seen (a work in progress) and put down a Voice Over demo that knocked the socks off some significant feet. I did have success in VO in Melbourne and am fortunate to continue working from afar, but I felt the opportunity for me to perform on camera and the stage was limited there. I grew a spine, applied for a Green Card and in 2018, moved to Los Angeles. Look, I’m hanging in there. If the litmus test for success is “days not in existential crisis” I’m doing pretty well!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There’s the learning curve of adjusting to the little differences in day to day life between America and Australia. Then the challenges of trying to have your creativity recognized amongst an industry saturated by exceptionally talented and driven people. Firstly, I’ve needed to appreciate that more people than the entire population of Australia live in California alone. Admin takes time. Bring a Tolkien book to the DMV. Health Care: You can’t just get ten stitches at urgent care and not expect a chunky bill. In terms of creativity, no one stands in your way more than yourself. Sure, people can and will bruise your ego from time to time (my personal fave was being told I look two decades older than I am), but it’s up to you how much you take on board and how much you take with a grain of salt. I do notice that Americans seem to be more comfortable owning their accomplishments and selling their skills compared to those of us Commonwealthians afflicted with Tall Poppy Syndrome.* I’m actively trying to adopt the self-assured approach and not rely on my reps to notify the industry gatekeepers of my existence.
*Cultural phenomenon common in Australia and New Zealand of mocking people who think highly of themselves, “cutting down the tall poppy”. Self-deprecating and promoting modesty and egalitarianism.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an Actor and Voice Over Artist. I’m proud of my work ethic and skill honing different accents. Making people laugh or hearing a client say words to the effect of “hell fricken yeah, you nailed it” is positively intoxicating. I am grateful for my parents’ Italian heritage and the opportunities for me to include speaking Italian in professional work. I’ve found the most instances for using different accents is in audiobooks with European settings, of which I’ve narrated about 20 so far. People tend to remember me for my vocal range, particularly with animation. One of my worst impressions of a high school teacher turned out to be the best fit for a character in a Turkish feature animation called BadCat. I was able to play three characters in that project and enjoy surprising people with the motley modulations. Hitherto, most of my work has taken place in the booth, but my goal is to pair these skills with my mug and play with other humans on camera.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Stop putting people on pedestals. Kind people will follow through fairly quickly with offers of help, and you can find ways to show your appreciation by returning the favor or paying it forward. Empty worded people who leave you with a sense of obligation should be avoided like some kind of virus.
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@antheagreco.com
- Website: www.antheagreco.com
